How to beat Sierra in Pokémon Go in December 2024

Secure victory with the help of these counters

Niantic

Sierra once again takes part in a Pokémon Go Rocket Takeover and is equipped with a fresh team of Pokémon to fulfill her dark plans. You’ll need to overcome this cunning opponent if you want to get your chance at defeating Giovanni in December 2024, liberating many Shadow Pokémon in the process.

Table of Contents

1. Sierra’s Pokémon in December 2024 – Pokémon Go
2. Best counters to Ralts – Pokémon Go Sierra
3. Best counters to Sableye – Pokémon Go Sierra
4. Best counters to Steelix – Pokémon Go Sierra
5. Best counters to Milotic – Pokémon Go Sierra
6. Best counters to Houndoom – Pokémon Go Sierra
7. Best counters to Nidoqueen – Pokémon Go Sierra
8. Best counters to Gardevoir – Pokémon Go Sierra

Just like her colleagues, Sierra only shows up if you have an active Rocket Radar, which you need to construct by farming Mysterious Parts from grunts or completing research tasks. Once it’s activated, you can encounter Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra at PokéStops or on Rocket Balloons. Defeating all three Team Go Rocket bosses enables you to face off against Giovanni at last.

This guide will tell you how to beat Sierra in Pokémon Go in 2024.

Sierra’s Pokémon in December 2024 – Pokémon Go

Sierra is guaranteed to send Shadow Ralts into battle first. Her second and third team slots are flexible, however, with three different Pokémon being available for each position.

• Slot #1: Ralts
• Slot #2: Sableye / Steelix / Milotic
• Slot #3: Houndoom / Nidoqueen / Gardevoir

Best counters to Ralts – Pokémon Go Sierra

Sierra is guaranteed to start off with Ralts this time around. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Ralts is susceptible to Steel-type attacks, which might also come in handy if its evolution, Gardevoir, shows up later in this fight.

• Necrozma (Dusk Mane) (Psychic, Steel): Metal Claw, Sunsteel Strike, Iron Head
• Metagross (Psychic, Steel): Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, Flash Cannon
• Dialga (Steel, Dragon): Metal Claw, Iron Head, Draco Meteor

Best counters to Sableye – Pokémon Go Sierra

Sableye is a potential second pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Sableye, being both a Dark- and a Ghost-type, only calls Fairy-type attacks a true weakness.

• Togekiss (Fairy, Flying): Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere
• Gardevoir (Fairy, Psychic): Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic
• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Dazzling Gleam, Power Whip

Best counters to Steelix – Pokémon Go Sierra

Steelix is a potential second choice for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Steelix is a tough cookie, but comes with one particularly useful weakness in the form of the Ground-type, which can be used to counter Houndoom and Nidoqueen as well.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Milotic – Pokémon Go Sierra

Milotic is a potential second pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

You can use your Carvanha counters to deal with Milotic as well, should it be fielded.

• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Power Whip, Dazzling Gleam
• Kartana (Grass, Steel): Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade, X-Scissor
• Zarude (Grass, Dark): Vine Whip, Power Whip, Dark Pulse

Best counters to Houndoom – Pokémon Go Sierra

Houndoom is a potential third pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Houndoom, Sierra's signature Pokémon, offers one obvious weakness overlap you can exploit: Ground-type attacks.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Nidoqueen – Pokémon Go Sierra

Nidoqueen is a potential third pick for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Though the queen has other weaknesses, you can easily cover her with Ground-type moves as well.

• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake
• Garchomp (Ground, Dragon): Mud Shot, Earth Power, Earthquake
• Excadrill (Ground, Steel): Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands, Earthquake

Best counters to Gardevoir – Pokémon Go Sierra

Gardevoir is a potential third choice for Sierra. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Gardevoir is the potential third pick we mentioned earlier that a Steel-type would be handy for. Its other weaknesses – Ghost and Poison – don’t really fit into the picture of this fight, so bringing a Steel attacker has the most value.

• Necrozma (Dusk Mane) (Psychic, Steel): Metal Claw, Sunsteel Strike, Iron Head
• Metagross (Psychic, Steel): Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, Flash Cannon
• Dialga (Steel, Dragon): Metal Claw, Iron Head, Draco Meteor

For more Pokémon Go, check out the overviews of the monthly Spotlight Hours and 5-Star Raids.